Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy

Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy is a smaller-than-average church school in the Diocese of Norwich St Benet's multi-academy trust. Inspectors found the school meeting expected standards across all judgement areas, with safeguarding met. Pupils are happy, safe and well cared for; behaviour is generally highly positive and attendance is slightly above the national average, with persistent absence below it. The curriculum is well constructed, especially in reading and mathematics, and the phonics curriculum is a strength. Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils generally progress well from their starting points, and the school has a highly inclusive ethos. Leadership has experienced significant change, including three headteachers in three years, but trust support has helped secure improvements in behaviour, attendance and curriculum. The main concern is writing. Although older pupils' handwriting has improved, younger pupils still form some letters inaccurately, and across the curriculum some pupils do not get enough practice to write confidently, at length and in a range of styles. Teachers do not always check written work rigorously enough, so some pupils repeat mistakes or misunderstand important knowledge. Some pupils also do not participate fully or take enough responsibility for their own learning, and teachers do not always notice this. Leaders are also not evaluating the impact of extra-curricular provision rigorously enough, and some pupils do not take part. Published KS2 data for 2024/25 shows outcomes below national averages in combined reading, writing and mathematics and in the individual subjects, although the report describes outcomes as typically in line with national averages. Leaders acknowledge the writing and assessment work still to do and are well placed to continue improving.

Strengths

• Pupils are happy, feel safe and are well cared for, with strong pastoral support.
• Behaviour is generally highly positive, respectful and inclusive, with rare suspensions, bullying and discriminatory language.
• Attendance is slightly above the national average and persistent absence is below the national average.
• The phonics curriculum is a strength; pupils read with fluency, accuracy and expression, and Year 1 phonics outcomes are better than the national average.
• Pupils calculate confidently in mathematics and use mathematical knowledge to solve problems.
• Pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils generally progress well from their starting points.
• The curriculum is well constructed, especially in reading and mathematics, and builds strong foundations for future learning.
• Early years provision is well constructed, with clear teaching, strong reading from Reception and good number development.
• Leaders identify pupils' needs precisely and provide effective academic and pastoral support, drawing on trust and external expertise.
• Leaders, governors and trustees evaluate the school precisely, and trust support has been consistent through leadership changes.
• Staff feel supported by leaders, and the majority of parents recommend the school.
• Personal development is effective, helping pupils become open-minded, compassionate and knowledgeable about diversity and community.
• Pupils have a range of clubs, trips and responsibilities that enrich their school experience.

Areas for Improvement

• Writing is the main weakness: younger pupils form some letters inaccurately, and some pupils lack sufficient practice to write confidently, at length and in a range of styles.
• Teachers do not always check pupils' learning rigorously, especially in written work, so some pupils repeat mistakes and misunderstand important knowledge.
• Leaders need to ensure teachers identify errors and misconceptions in written work and provide precise support to improve writing.
• Some pupils do not participate fully in lessons or take enough responsibility for their own learning, and teachers do not always notice this.
• Some pupils do not participate in the school's extra-curricular offer, and leaders do not evaluate its impact on most pupils' lives rigorously enough.
• Published KS2 outcomes for 2024/25 are below national averages in combined reading, writing and mathematics and in individual subjects, despite the report describing outcomes as typically in line with national averages.
• Some parents are less convinced by the school, and leaders need to strengthen bridges with the local community.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 2.6% of pupils at Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy had 25.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 9.9% of pupils at Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy received £6,265 and spent £6,325 for each of its 189 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £87,000 (£460 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of The Diocese of Norwich St Benet'S Multi-Academy Trust, income was £9,471 and spending £9,419 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Norwich · Norfolk local authority: places and applications

Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy is part of The Diocese of Norwich St Benet'S Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• Acle Church of England Primary Academy Norwich
• Catfield CofE Primary Academy Great Yarmouth
• Sutton Church of England Infant Acdemy Norwich
• Newton Flotman Church of England Primary Academy Norwich
• Hickling CofE Infants Academy Norwich
• St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy Norwich
• Happisburgh Church of England Primary Academy Norwich
• Tacolneston Church of England Primary Academy Norwich
• Alburgh With Denton Church of England Primary Academy Harleston
• Morley Church of England Primary Academy Wymondham

What is Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy have?

Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy has 192 pupils on roll.

What age range does Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy cover?

Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 48% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy?

Little Plumstead Church of England Primary Academy is at Old Hall Road, Little Plumstead, Norwich, Norfolk, NR13 5FA.